Harriet L. Bridgeford

Garner, Iowa Harriet L. Bridgeford, age 91, of Garner, formerly of 1455 2nd St. Southeast, Mason City, died Thursday, December 17, 2009, at the Concord Care Center in Garner, she had been a resident there since July 2008. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at First United Methodist Church WAYside Chapel, 119 South Georgia Ave. with Rev. Jim Stiles of officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Harriet Bridgeford memorial fund in care of the family.
Harriet L. (Gibbs) Bridgeford was born January 29, 1918, the daughter of Harry and Esther (Lenz) Gibbs on their family farm southeast of Klemme, Iowa. She attended and graduated from Klemme Schools; and later received advanced clerical instruction and graduated from Hamilton Business College. Harriet began her working years at Locke Photo in Mason City. She was later employed at Stoyles Printing as an office manager and bookkeeper. She enjoyed the many people she worked with and met over the years in downtown Mason City. She married Virgil Bridgeford on June 2, 1945 and they made their home in Mason City. Virgil passed away November 16, 1998. As a youth Harriet received a very crippling injury that left her with pain and a partial disability throughout her life. She never mentioned it or thought of herself as being set back by it in any way. Harriet was a very friendly, caring, and industrious person. She enjoyed baking cookies for nieces, nephews and friends; gardening, fishing and traveling. She and Virgil enjoyed vacationing around the country and Canada, and fishing on Clear Lake. Harriet was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church and womens clubs.
She is survived by her sister, Isabelle Gibbs of Mason City; sister-in-law, Hazel Toots Ellingson and her husband Merle of Clear Lake; brother-in-law, Richard Bridgeford of Mason City; nieces and nephews, Ronna (Jerry) Myers of Garner and Lora (Lester) Ward of Lansing, Illinois; Joe (Kathy) Gibbs of Garner, Debbie (Bob) Riecherts of Minneapolis; David (Cheryl) Ellingson of Indianola; Mark (Lori) Ellingson of Mason City; Julie (Neal) Pals of Clear Lake; and several great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil; her parents; two brothers, Asa and Ronald; sisters-in-law, Jane Bridgeford, Lois Gibbs, Fay Gibbs, and Dewie Gibbs.